Overview
Major vein receiving blood from exterior cranium and deep parts of face and part of the scapular region.
Origin
Formed by junction of the posterior division of retromandibular vein with posterior auricular vein within substance of the parotid gland, at level of angle of mandible
Course
- Descends obliquely across the surface of sternocleidomastoid, coursing from angle of mandible towards middle of clavicle
- Then enters posterior triangle below midpoint of sternocleidomastoid
Termination
- In the subclavian triangle, it perforates the deep fascia and terminates in the subclavian vein, lateral to its junction with the internal jugular vein
Valves
- Upper valves: pair of valves located 4cm above the clavicle
- Lower valves: pair of valves located near union with the subclavian vein
There is a dilated portion between the two sets of paired valves termed the sinus.
Tributaries
- Occipital (occasionally)
- Posterior external jugular
- Transverse cervical
- Suprascapular
- Anterior jugular vein
Relations
- Anterior: platysma, superficial fascia, skin
- Posterior: investing layer of deep cervical fascia, sternocleidomastoid
Anatomical Variants
- Duplicate external jugular vein
- Terminating in the internal jugular vein